Jonathan accuses House of inciting Nigerians

President Goodluck Jonathan last night accused the House of Representatives of inciting Nigerians against his government by passing a resolution urging him to suspend the removal of petrol subsidy.

He also described the resolution as a mere expression of an opinion.

He denied jetting out to South Africa or spending N1billion to feed in Aso Rock.

The President, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, accused some of the lawmakers of mischief.

He gave his reaction a few hours after the House of Representatives passed its resolution.

The presidency had attempted to stop the session but the House leadership defied its pressure.

He said: “Well, I mean what the House of Reps has said is merely an opinion and in a Constitutional democracy, people have a right to hold debates or to discuss.

“But I think it is most unfortunate that a House of Representatives will hold a special meeting on a Sunday. To the best of my knowledge, that is the first time that will happen in contemporary Nigerian history, that a special meeting will be called on a Sunday just to debate an issue of deregulation.

“Of course, I followed the debate for the most part on television and the quality of the debate as well. I think the less we say anything about that, the better because I have cited the example of a member of the House misinforming Nigerians about the President’s movement.

“And of course you saw how one lawmaker after another had no basic facts. There was so much interest in grandstanding and I think that the entire exercise is more of a comment on some of the individual contributors to the discussion.

“That extraordinary session coming a day on the eve of an attempt by some people to disrupt law and order could be interpreted in some quarters as an attempt by the House of Representatives to incite the Nigerian people against the government and the last time I checked the lawmakers are also a part of this government.”

Asked whether the House decision will not be binding on the President, the presidential spokesman said the presidency will not go back on the deregulation of the downstream sector.

He added: “The President has made his position very clear in the national broadcast .”